Why Strength Training is Still Essential in the Summer

Strength training isn’t seasonal. It’s foundational.

Summer in New Orleans doesn’t just bring sunshine—it brings heat, humidity, and plenty of reasons to slow things down. When stepping outside feels like walking into a sauna, it's tempting to cut back on workouts altogether or settle into a lighter routine: maybe more walks, casual bike rides, or just skipping the gym until things cool off.

And while there’s nothing wrong with adjusting your pace or taking more rest days, there’s one part of your routine that shouldn’t disappear with the heat: strength training.

If you care about staying strong, lean, confident, and injury-free, lifting isn’t optional, it’s essential. Here’s why strength training needs to stay front and center this summer—and how Body By Ford makes it simple, effective, and sustainable, even when the weather says otherwise.

1. Strength Is a "Use It or Lose It" Asset

Muscle mass doesn’t maintain itself. If you take the summer off from lifting, you can start to see decreases in strength and muscle definition within just a few weeks. The hard truth? Gains are temporary if they aren’t maintained.

Your body is efficient: it adapts to the demands you place on it. If you stop asking your muscles to perform under load, they’ll respond by shrinking. That means everything from your metabolism to your posture to your ability to carry groceries (or kids!) can suffer.

You don’t need to train every day—but you do need consistency. Two to three strength training sessions per week is enough to maintain muscle and keep progressing through the summer.

2. Lifting Enhances Your Favorite Summer Activities

Summer often means more time outside being active—and that’s great! But here’s something people often overlook: your time in the gym directly supports your time outdoors.

Lifting weights improves your joint stability, muscular endurance, and overall movement efficiency. That translates to:

More power on hikes or bike rides
Better control during sports or recreational activities
Lower risk of injury from slips, falls, or repetitive strain
Less soreness and fatigue after an active day

So whether you’re paddleboarding on the lake, chasing your dog through the park, or playing pickup games with friends, strength training helps you move better and recover faster.

3. Strength Training Helps You Maintain a Lean, Toned Look

If body composition is part of your goal (like many people during swimsuit season), strength training should be your best friend.

Cardio burns calories, sure—but lifting weights helps you build and preserve lean muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism elevated all day long. That means you’ll burn more calories at rest, improve your body’s insulin sensitivity, and have more control over fat storage and energy balance.

Muscle doesn’t just help you look toned—it’s what makes toning possible.

Skipping the weights in favor of all cardio can actually lead to muscle loss, which can leave you feeling “soft” instead of strong and lean. The solution? Keep strength training in your routine, even if your schedule gets a little more relaxed.

If you want to look leaner, feel stronger, and stay energized—don’t trade in the weights for extra cardio. Do both!

4. It Doesn’t Have to Be Time-Consuming or Inflexible

One of the biggest barriers people face in summer is time. Between travel, social events, kids being out of school, and more spontaneous schedules, the structure of your usual fitness routine might get thrown off.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to spend hours lifting to see results.

A well-designed 30-minute workout can be incredibly effective.
Supersets, circuits, and full-body moves can help you get more done in less time.
Can’t make it to the gym? Bodyweight strength training, resistance bands, or simple dumbbell workouts at home or on the road still count.

The key is to stay consistent, even if your workouts look different. Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up.

5. Strong Bodies = Confident, Capable People

Summer often comes with more skin showing, more social events, and more moments when we’re putting our bodies on display—at the beach, pool, or just walking around in warm-weather clothes.

Strength training does more than change your appearance, it changes how you carry yourself. You feel capable. You stand taller. You move with more power and less hesitation. That kind of confidence shows up everywhere: not just at the gym, but in your work, your relationships, and your mindset.

It’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about identity. Being someone who lifts tells your body and brain, “I am strong. I can handle hard things.”

Bottom Line: Don’t Let Summer Derail Your Strength

Strength training isn’t just a winter gym habit. It’s a year-round investment in your health, confidence, and performance. Cardio has its place—but it doesn’t replace the unique benefits of resistance training.

So if you’ve been lifting this year, don’t lose that progress now. And if you’ve been meaning to start, summer is actually a great time to begin!

At Body By Ford, we specialize in efficient, effective workouts that fit your real life. Whether you’ve got 30 minutes, need a travel-friendly plan, or want a coach to keep you on track, we can help. Book a free consultation here with one of our certified trainers and feel the difference for yourself!

Check out the full list of our blog posts here. Our library of posts is chock full of valuable info and helpful tips to help you be your healthiest self!

Ford StevensJuly 6, 2025

Why Strength Training is Still Essential in the Summer

Strength training isn’t seasonal. It’s foundational.

And while there’s nothing wrong with adjusting your pace or taking more rest days, there’s one part of your routine that shouldn’t disappear with the heat: strength training.

If you care about staying strong, lean, confident, and injury-free, lifting isn’t optional, it’s essential. Here’s why strength training needs to stay front and center this summer—and how Body By Ford makes it simple, effective, and sustainable, even when the weather says otherwise.

1. Strength Is a "Use It or Lose It" Asset

Muscle mass doesn’t maintain itself. If you take the summer off from lifting, you can start to see decreases in strength and muscle definition within just a few weeks. The hard truth? Gains are temporary if they aren’t maintained.

Your body is efficient: it adapts to the demands you place on it. If you stop asking your muscles to perform under load, they’ll respond by shrinking. That means everything from your metabolism to your posture to your ability to carry groceries (or kids!) can suffer.

You don’t need to train every day—but you do need consistency. Two to three strength training sessions per week is enough to maintain muscle and keep progressing through the summer.

2. Lifting Enhances Your Favorite Summer Activities

Summer often means more time outside being active—and that’s great! But here’s something people often overlook: your time in the gym directly supports your time outdoors.

Lifting weights improves your joint stability, muscular endurance, and overall movement efficiency. That translates to:

More power on hikes or bike rides

Better control during sports or recreational activities

Lower risk of injury from slips, falls, or repetitive strain

Less soreness and fatigue after an active day

So whether you’re paddleboarding on the lake, chasing your dog through the park, or playing pickup games with friends, strength training helps you move better and recover faster.

3. Strength Training Helps You Maintain a Lean, Toned Look

If body composition is part of your goal (like many people during swimsuit season), strength training should be your best friend.

Cardio burns calories, sure—but lifting weights helps you build and preserve lean muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism elevated all day long. That means you’ll burn more calories at rest, improve your body’s insulin sensitivity, and have more control over fat storage and energy balance.

Muscle doesn’t just help you look toned—it’s what makes toning possible.

Skipping the weights in favor of all cardio can actually lead to muscle loss, which can leave you feeling “soft” instead of strong and lean. The solution? Keep strength training in your routine, even if your schedule gets a little more relaxed.

If you want to look leaner, feel stronger, and stay energized—don’t trade in the weights for extra cardio. Do both!

4. It Doesn’t Have to Be Time-Consuming or Inflexible

One of the biggest barriers people face in summer is time. Between travel, social events, kids being out of school, and more spontaneous schedules, the structure of your usual fitness routine might get thrown off.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to spend hours lifting to see results.

A well-designed 30-minute workout can be incredibly effective.

Supersets, circuits, and full-body moves can help you get more done in less time.

Can’t make it to the gym? Bodyweight strength training, resistance bands, or simple dumbbell workouts at home or on the road still count.

The key is to stay consistent, even if your workouts look different. Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up.

5. Strong Bodies = Confident, Capable People

Summer often comes with more skin showing, more social events, and more moments when we’re putting our bodies on display—at the beach, pool, or just walking around in warm-weather clothes.

Strength training does more than change your appearance, it changes how you carry yourself. You feel capable. You stand taller. You move with more power and less hesitation. That kind of confidence shows up everywhere: not just at the gym, but in your work, your relationships, and your mindset.

It’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about identity. Being someone who lifts tells your body and brain, “I am strong. I can handle hard things.”

Bottom Line: Don’t Let Summer Derail Your Strength

Strength training isn’t just a winter gym habit. It’s a year-round investment in your health, confidence, and performance. Cardio has its place—but it doesn’t replace the unique benefits of resistance training.

So if you’ve been lifting this year, don’t lose that progress now. And if you’ve been meaning to start, summer is actually a great time to begin!

Check out the full list of our blog posts here. Our library of posts is chock full of valuable info and helpful tips to help you be your healthiest self!